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U.S. Department of State released a fact sheet disproving some of the Putin's statements about Ukraine.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:51

We decided to quote this list on our website as well:

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:52

Mr. Putin says: Russian forces in Crimea are only acting to protect Russian military assets. It is “citizens’ defense groups,” not Russian forces, who have seized infrastructure and military facilities in Crimea.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:41

The Facts: Strong evidence suggests that members of Russian security services are at the heart of the highly organized anti-Ukraine forces in Crimea. While these units wear uniforms without insignia, they drive vehicles with Russian military license plates and freely identify themselves as Russian security forces when asked by the international media and the Ukrainian military. Moreover, these individuals are armed with weapons not generally available to civilians.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:44

Mr. Putin says: Russia’s actions fall within the scope of the 1997 Friendship Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:44

The Facts: The 1997 agreement requires Russia to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, which have given them operational control of Crimea, are in clear violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:44

Mr. Putin says: The opposition failed to implement the February 21 agreement with former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:44

The Facts: The February 21 agreement laid out a plan in which the Rada, or Parliament, would pass a bill to return Ukraine to its 2004 Constitution, thus returning the country to a constitutional system centered around its parliament. Under the terms of the agreement, Yanukovych was to sign the enacting legislation within 24 hours and bring the crisis to a peaceful conclusion. Yanukovych refused to keep his end of the bargain. Instead, he packed up his home and fled, leaving behind evidence of wide-scale corruption.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:45

Mr. Putin says: Ukraine’s government is illegitimate. Yanukovych is still the legitimate leader of Ukraine.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:45

The Facts: On March 4, President Putin himself acknowledged the reality that Yanukovych “has no political future.” After Yanukovych fled Ukraine, even his own Party of Regions turned against him, voting to confirm his withdrawal from office and to support the new government. Ukraine’s new government was approved by the democratically elected Ukrainian Parliament, with 371 votes – more than an 82% majority. The interim government of Ukraine is a government of the people, which will shepherd the country toward democratic elections on May 25th – elections that will allow all Ukrainians to have a voice in the future of their country.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:45

Mr. Putin says: There is a humanitarian crisis and hundreds of thousands are fleeing Ukraine to Russia and seeking asylum.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:46

The Facts: To date, there is absolutely no evidence of a humanitarian crisis. Nor is there evidence of a flood of asylum-seekers fleeing Ukraine for Russia. International organizations on the ground have investigated by talking with Ukrainian border guards, who also refuted these claims. Independent journalists observing the border have also reported no such flood of refugees.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:46

(editor's note: we've already covered this issue)

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 23:08

Mr. Putin says: Ethnic Russians are under threat.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:46

The Facts: Outside of Russian press and Russian state television, there are no credible reports of any ethnic Russians being under threat. The new Ukrainian government placed a priority on peace and reconciliation from the outset. President Oleksandr Turchynov refused to sign legislation limiting the use of the Russian language at regional level. Ethnic Russians and Russian speakers have filed petitions attesting that their communities have not experienced threats. Furthermore, since the new government was established, calm has returned to Kyiv. There has been no surge in crime, no looting, and no retribution against political opponents.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:46

Mr. Putin says: Russian bases are under threat.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:47

The Facts: Russian military facilities were and remain secure, and the new Ukrainian government has pledged to abide by all existing international agreements, including those covering Russian bases. It is Ukrainian bases in Crimea that are under threat from Russian military action.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:47

Mr. Putin says: There have been mass attacks on churches and synagogues in southern and eastern Ukraine.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:47

The Facts: Religious leaders in the country and international religious freedom advocates active in Ukraine have said there have been no incidents of attacks on churches. All of Ukraine’s church leaders, including representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, have expressed support for the new political leadership, calling for national unity and a period of healing. Jewish groups in southern and eastern Ukraine report that they have not seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:47

Mr. Putin says: Kyiv is trying to destabilize Crimea.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:48

The Facts: Ukraine’s interim government has acted with restraint and sought dialogue. Russian troops, on the other hand, have moved beyond their bases to seize political objectives and infrastructure in Crimea. The government in Kyiv immediately sent the former Chief of Defense to defuse the situation. Petro Poroshenko, the latest government emissary to pursue dialogue in Crimea, was prevented from entering the Crimean Rada.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:48

Mr. Putin says: The Rada is under the influence of extremists or terrorists.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:48

The Facts: The Rada is the most representative institution in Ukraine. Recent legislation has passed with large majorities, including from representatives of eastern Ukraine. Far-right wing ultranationalist groups, some of which were involved in open clashes with security forces during the EuroMaidan protests, are not represented in the Rada. There is no indication that the Ukrainian government would pursue discriminatory policies; on the contrary, they have publicly stated exactly the opposite.

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 22:49

We're leaving the conclusions to the readers. You can find the full fact sheet at http://russian.moscow.usembassy.gov/factsheet-ukraine-03062014.html in Russian or at http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2014/03/20140306295487.html#axzz2vJruYOxN in English

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 23:00

It didn't take MFA of Russia long to respond:

mishkiss 07.03.14 в 23:01

MFA of Russia official representative A. Lukashevich comments the "evidential rationales" by U.S. Department of State about the situation in Ukraine:

mishkiss 08.03.14 в 01:19

The note "disproving" the facts, mentioned by the President of Russia V. Putin at the press conference on 4th of March about the situation in Ukraine, posted on the website of U.S. Department of State, startles not as much by rude twisting of reality as by cynicism and blatant "double standards".

mishkiss 08.03.14 в 01:23

The Russian statement "disproving" the facts, as mentioned by the President of Russia V. Putin at the press conference on 4th of March about the situation in Ukraine, is “shocking, not as much for its primitive distortion of reality as its cynicism and overt ‘double standards'."

LilaH 08.03.14 в 02:44

The statement "disproving" the facts, posted on U.S. Department of State website and mentioned by the President of Russia V. Putin at the press conference on 4th of March about the situation in Ukraine is shocking, not as much for its primitive distortion of reality as its cynicism and overt ‘double standards'.

askaliuk 08.03.14 в 03:28

Department of State tries to act on unscrupulously one-sided treatment of events, as if there were no abundant evidence of outrages committed by radical nationalists, including violence against disagreeing recorded by cameras, or provocative murders by snipers, which are confirmed also by "independent sources". Washington, of course, can't acknowledge that it nourished "maidan" itself, encouraged violent overthrow of power, preparing the way for those who pass themselves off as a legitimate authorities in Kyiv.

mishkiss 08.03.14 в 01:33

We will not go as low as to argue with low-grade propaganda. We will only say that once again we deal with the unacceptable arrogance and pretending to be the sole possessor of the ultimate truth. USA doesn't have the moral right to preach about abidance by international rules and respect for the other countries' sovereignty. What about the former Yugoslavia bombing or Iraqi invasion under fabricated motive?

mishkiss 08.03.14 в 01:39

Returning to the more distant times we can find a lot of cases of American military interventions far away from the national borders and without any real threat to the USA safety. Vietnamese war claimed two millions of civilians, let alone the completely devastated country and toxic environment. Under the pretense of defending its citizens, that just happened to be in the conflict zones, USA invaded Lebanon in 1958, Dominican Republic in 1965, attacked tiny Grenada in 1983, bombed Libya in 1986, and three years later occupied Panama. Nevertheless, they dare to reproach Russia for "armed aggression" when it intercedes for its nationals, constituting the majority of Crimean population, preventing ultranationalistic forces from organizing one more sanguinary "maidan".

mishkiss 08.03.14 в 01:54

Obviously, Washington is still not able to accept the course of events when it contradicts their opinion. They can't overcome themselves, put up with the fact that they can't dictate their will always and everywhere and play the role of "impeccable judge" that always has the last word, a role they were used to until recently. Emotions get in the way, but it's not the reason to shift the blame.

mishkiss 08.03.14 в 01:59

6th of March, 2014

mishkiss 08.03.14 в 01:59

P.S. now we have cool colored buttons right under the article - do click on them!

mishkiss 08.03.14 в 02:01